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RYANAIR has confirmed that it is taking legal advice on what can be done in the face of a second refusal by Aer Lingus to hold and EGM to discuss the withdrawal of the Shan- non/Heathrow flights from next Jan- VEDA

The airline has pledged to increase it routes out of Shannon, based on the strong forward bookings it is experi- encing there.

“Ryanair regrets that Aer Lingus is refusing to allow shareholders

an opportunity to discuss the clo- sure of a profitable route at a time When Aer Lingus’s interim profits have collapsed by 58 per cent to just €6m and its share price has fallen to €2.40, well below Ryanair’s of- fer of €2.80 last year,’ said Ryanair CEO, Michael O’Leary “Since the directors of Aer Lingus are will- ing to repeatedly breach their statu- tory obligations towards their largest shareholder, there clearly isn’t any influence that Ryanair can bring to bear on this profitable route closure. Accordingly, we’re considering what

legal remedies are available to us.”

Speaking after the company AGM, at which O’Leary pledged to double its traffic and its profits to 84 mil- lion passengers and €900 million by 2012, O’Leary laid out plans to expand the Shannon operation. He said that Ryanair’s services will al- most double on Shannon — London from four to seven flights daily with Services from Shannon to Gatwick, Luton and Stanstead, where Shan- non passengers can connect to more destinations than they presently can from Heathrow.

The airline will double its Shan- non-Paris services to a twice daily flight next summer, and Ryanair is now in negotiations with Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to see if a viable cost base can be agreed to allow a low fare Shannon-Amsterdam route to be launched. This winter, Ryanair will operate more than 40 daily flights to and from Shannon, connecting Shan- non to 30 European destinations. If Aer Lingus is determined to abandon Shannon and the west of Ireland then Ryanair will add more flights and more low fares.

MINISTER for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheal Martin TD has announced a €/million R and D investment by UCB Schwarz Pharma, supported by Shannon De- velopment.

The announcement took place dur- ing a visit by the Minister to anumber of companies located in the Shannon Free Zone. The Free Zone has more than 7,200 people employed in 110

companies generating over €3.3 bil- lion in annual sales.

During the visit Minister Martin was briefed at the UCB Schwarz Pharma plant on the capital invest- ment the company is making in 2007.

Total investment volume by the company is expected to be in excess of €100 million.

The company is currently rede- veloping a manufacturing plant on its site to manufacture a new drug

which they have recently developed. The investment also includes a major upgrade in facilities and infrastruc- ture.

Minister Martin said “This is pre- cisely the sort of activity and invest- ment that will secure Ireland’s pros- perity into the future.

It is through bringing innovation and our creative intelligence to in- dustry that Ireland will mark out its ground and gain competitive advan- eee

Welcoming Minister Martin to the Shannon Free Zone, Mr Kevin Thompstone, Chief Executive, Shan- non Development, said, “The Free Zone continues to be a location of choice for global businesses across a variety of industries. Shannon De- velopment is currently preparing a comprehensive master plan for a ma- jor regeneration programme at the Free Zone to guarantee its continued competitive edge into the future”.

Minister Martin’s visit to the Shan-

non Free Zone also included visits to aircraft leasing company, Genesis Lease; financial securities company, Genworth Financial; and. underwear manufacturer, Maidenform Interna- nlOyerNe

Speaking at the official opening of their new offices by Minister Mar- tin, Chairman and CEO of Genesis Lease, Mr John McMahon, said ‘We are grateful to Minister Micheal Martin for officially opening our new offices.

THE west Clare members of Clare County Council have agreed to read and consider the terms of a “Grant of Easement” of a right of way in Cree on to Doughmore Beach.

Under the agreement a right of way on to the beach will be handed over to Doonbeg Golf Club Limited in exchange to alternative access to the leer eee

In addressing the Kilrush Area Committee Senior Engineer Donal Buckley said that he has been ad- vised that a high court judicial re- view will have “nothing to do with the right of way”’.

Under the proposal, which must get the approval of the elected members of the council, the right of way over part of the public road at Caherfeen- ick, Cree will be extinguished for 120 metres.

The extinguishment will only take place when criteria are met by the golf club according to Mr Buckley.

Among the commitments is the provision of a car park of 35 spaces constructed to Clare County Coun- cil’s specifications and supervised by the local authority’s staff.

An area of land including the car park and a further estimated .6 acres for 35 more car park spaces must also be transfered into the ownership

of Clare County Council.

A new “turn table at the new termi- nal point” on the Caherfeenick road to Clare County Council’s specifica- tion in size and standard must also be constructed and bollards installed.

“A clear legal grant of a pedestrian right of way to be given by Doonbeg Golf Club to Clare County Council from the turn table” at the end of the road to the beach is another part if the controversial proposal.

A document circulated to the coun- cillors also points to “a clear legal erant of a vehicular right of way for emergency vehicles” to be given by the golf club to Clare County Coun- cil and this right of way to be three

metres wide.

The final criteria to be met by the golf club states that Clare County Council is to be “indemnified against any claim on the Doonbeg Golf Club property by Doonbeg golf Club.”

The west Clare members of the council said that they would like time to study the documentation and to explore the feeling of the people of Caherfeenick on the issue.

‘Are the people of the Caherfeenick Road happy with the bollards there?” asked Cllr Oliver Garry (FG).

Cllr Madeleine Taylor Quinn said the council must ensure legal rights of the people. “The legal certainty is absolute,” she said.

OPPONENTS of the Aer Lingus plan to move their four Shannon/Heath- row slots to Belfast are being urged to join a Dail protest being organised in advance of the Government debate on the issue tomorrow.

The Atlantic Connectivity Alliance (ACA) is urging Clare people to go to Dublin and join the protests outside

and in the public gallery of the Dail, wearing county colours if possible.

The debate is due to start around Spm and a spokesman for the ACA said that it is “vital that we have a big, big presence, at least 300-400 people in Dublin that afternoon, so please pass on the word, and use your own ‘sectoral networks’ to get as many people up there as possible”.

He added that the plan is to fill the

public gallery in the Dail to capacity, and to have a strong, visible presence outside Leinster House. “Already the Hotels Federation are running a poster campaign and are planning other elements for the day. We need other sectors to follow suit, so please feel free to get creative around this. It is important that everyone makes the effort to be in Dublin, for what is a critical moment in the campaign.”

After a meeting last week with Em- ployment, Trade and Enterprise Min- ister, Michael Martin in Shannon, the Alliance accused the Government of “failing to show it has the political will to prevent the loss of thousands of jobs across western regions due to the fall-out from Aer Lingus’ deci- sion to abandon the profitable Shan- non-Heathrow service”.

Following what the ACA described as a “frank and engaging” meeting the ACA stated that while it has no doubt about Minister Martin’s bona fide’s on the issue, it seriously ques- tions the political will of the majority of Government on this critical issue.

Said ACA spokesperson Ken Sul- livan, “the soundings from Govern- ment are still very clear; they say they are not for turning in relation to Aer Lingus but that is purely a mat- ter of political will, which they don’t seem to have right now.”

Speaking after a separate meeting of the ACA in the Glenlo Abbey Ho- tel, Galway, Alliance member and Galway Chamber representative Dr Chris Coughlan confirmed that a meeting was held in Shannon late last week with the Inter-Departmen- tal Group “but it merely confirmed suspicion that the group has a pre- determined agenda to substantiate Government claims that it cannot in- tervene in the Aer Lingus decision.”

CLARE athletes Jennifer Tuohy and Marie O’Connor were special guests of President Mary McAleese in Aras an Uachtarain as members of the Irish team that recently brought home a record haul of medals from the World Transplant Games.

President McAleese told the ath- letes they brought honour and glory to the country at the World Trans- plant Games in Bangkok earlier this month as part of the team that won an unprecedented 39 medals.

The President was so impressed by their triumphs that she invited the

team to a special reception in iNet an Uachtarain, where she compli- mented the Clare athletes for “bring- ing the issue of organ donation to a level of national prominence it never before enjoyed.”

“You should feel very proud of yourselves,’ she addded. “You have shown people that there can be a creat life after getting a transplant, and you have touched the lives of more people than you realise.

‘Maybe somebody was waiting for a transplant recently when they read about your exploits and it may have given them a lift, shown them what can be achieved after receiving a

transplant.”

Team manager Colin White said the reception at Aras an Uachtarain was the highlight of a roller-coaster month for the team. “We came home on a high to a great reception, but this is even better,’ he said.

The team, which has its own web- site www.lransplantTeamIreland. com, will compete in the 2009 World Transplant Games in Australia, and Ireland will host the European Trans- plant and Dialysis Games in 2010.

ENNIS Chamber said that feedback from businesses in the town to Satur- day’s car-free day have been “largely positive”’.

The chamber conducted a foot- fall survey on Saturday and will be conducting another one in the near future to see whether the absence

of cars encouraged or discouraged people from coming into town to go SyaTo)ayoyberee

While the results of that survey are still to come in, Rita McInerney, Chamber CEO, said they had also conducted their own survey among members and, with one-fifth of busi- ness having responded already, the feeling is a positive one.

“Not all of the replies are in yet but most were positive and _ busi- nesses also felt that the good weather helped.

‘There were some reports of busi- ness slackening off somewhat in the afternoon.”

McInerney said that the chamber is “looking forward” to being involved in discussions on how pedestrianisa-

tion should work going forward.

With another car-free day being planned for Fashion Week in October and the possibility of car-free days for Christmas shopping, McInerney said that it was felt that Saturday was a good day of the week to try out the concept.

Future days would benefit, chamber members felt, from more advance

publicity and perhaps maps in the local media and notices to illustrate possible traffic movements.

“A map is worth a thousand words and a lot of people didn’t realise that some restrictions on traffic move- ments were lifted on Saturday to allow traffic to flow. Those are the kind of things people need to know for these events.”

MORE than 2,000 people will move to Shannon over the next few years and they should be made aware of proposed developments in their area.

That’s according to a local coun- cillor, who has suggested that pro- posed developments off the southern primary route will be outlined at a meeting, organised by Clare County Council.

Cllr Tony Mulachy (FG) believes that a variety of groups, including schools, religious groups, the par- ish council and community groups and all relevant bodies, should get involved in this.

“It would allow them plan for the future expansion of their facilities if necessary and, if required, land to be set aside to facilitate this where appropriate, prior to the start of de- velopments in this area,” said Cllr Mulachy.

“We are going to bring another 1,500 to 2,000 people into the town over the next few years. The likes of St Caimin’s, St Aidan’s and St Co- naire’s (schools) are all practically auueR

“If we load another 2,500 people into the area it is reasonable to as- sume some of them will be children.

“Everybody can have an open- minded discussion. We, as a council, should lead the way in this,” said Cllr

WIE ea ys

His colleague on Clare County Council, Gerry Flynn (Ind) agreed with the proposal and said it is vital that there is foresight, regarding fu- MUD como) E-veveun ete

“Tt is well documented that there is a masterplan. It is very wise that we plan properly for the future of Shan- non,’ he said.

In his response, Director of Serv- ices with the council, Ger Dollard said he agreed with “the sentiments of the motion”.

“A detailed masterplan was pre- pared for the land serviced by the Shannon Southern Primary Road. A consultation process was under- taken at the time of preparation of

the plan.

“The masterplan provides an over- all framework for the area and is not considered prescriptive and may be subject to variation in light of de- mands at a particular time.

“The development of the entire landbank is likely to take some con- siderable time and, depending on market demand, could take from ten to twenty years,” said Mr Dollard, in a written response to Cllr Mulcahy’s query.

He said he can arrange for a copy of the masterplan to be sent to any interested parties, while a copy of it can be placed on display at the Shan- non civic offices and the Sean Le- mass library.

CRATLOE man Joe O’Gorman, a farmer and father of five, was pre- sented with the Stephen Donnel- lan Memorial Cup and a cheque for €100 by last year’s winner, Stephen Hickey, at the Clare Shout Festival in Kilkishen on Saturday night.

It was second time lucky for Joe, who now lives in Kilkishen. Last year — the first year of the compe- tition — he was pipped at the final whistle. On Saturday night, he was deemed by the adjudicators to have a shout that was nearest to the genuine and unique ancient Clare Shout.

Again this year the championship was keenly contested, with over 30 competitors lining up on the main street in Kilkishen to take part.

Former national teacher, Mary Mc- Grath-Fahy of Knappogue, Quin, was the first-prize winner at the Clare Shout photo competition. Her picture, ‘Childhood Memories of Cullaun Lake’, was one of over 30 photographs entered for the competition. She was presented with a Galway Crystal tro- phy donated for the event by festival

secretary Joe Meaney.

Second prize went to Seamus O’Donoghue of Ballycasey Road, Shannon, who is a member of Shan- non Camera Club, the only camera club in Clare.

The winner of the third prize was Denis O’Rourke of Clarina, County Limerick, and the children’s section was won by 13-year-old Eryk Prajs, from Poland, who is a pupil at Kilk- ishen National School.

DOZENS of young people in Shan- non have signed up to one of the newest clubs in the town – the kick- boxing team!

The club has enjoyed a huge suc- cess since it first set up two-and-a- half years ago and is now Seeking a permanent home, which it can call its own!

The club’s members currently trains at Tullyvarraga hall. However those who set it up would dearly love to have a more permanent base.

Since the club was set up, more and

more young people have taken it up and the increased demand should be reflected in the facilities available.

Howie Vincent has been a member of the Shannon Wado – Kai karate club for the past 25 years. Two-and- a-half years ago, he decided to set up the kickboxing club.

He is pleased that Tullyvarraga hall has been made available, but would like the club to have its own home.

“Tullyvarraga hall is very good but at the end of the day, it would be nice to have our own place,” he said.

“We are hopeful that we can get a place,” he said.

“Financially, you get no grants. Whatever money we get from the classes goes back into the club. We usually have a flag day in Shannon once a year. That tides us over. Peo- ple are brilliant and help us out,” he Sr nLG

Up to 40 people – aged between 11 and 60 – who attend the club regular- ly, many of who are young women.

“It has become popular in Shannon. People are looking for self-defence,” |ntemncy-B (0

“The interest has certainly in- creased among young women. A lot of girls come up for the fitness,” said

Howie, who, himself trains five days a week and has fought at internation- al level.

“I get a great buzz out of training them,” he said.

Howie, who was born in the UK and who lives in Shannon, said mar- tial arts has many benefits.

“In martial arts, you get out what you put in. It is a discipline,” he said.

THE route of the Ennis General Hos- pital Committee’s protest rally has been changed to a public march, as confusion reigns over commitments given by Minister Mary Harney to Clare’s five mayors on Thursday Ee

Mayor of Clare Patricia McCarthy, who attended the hour-long meeting with the Health Minister, said that 24-hour consultant-led accident and emergency services would be lost from the hospital eventually.

In its place, the minister hoped to see a 24-hour A&E service, with a consultant on site for a certain number of hours every day, hours yet

to be decided.

Cllr McCarthy said the minister was looking to the Canadian model of GP coverage for the remainder of those hours.

“We made it very clear to her that nurse-led was not acceptable,’ she ALOE

“Never did she mention that we Should not have 24-hour A&E,” said the first citizen of Clare.

A statement from the Ennis Gen- eral Hospital Development Commit- tee said that last week the “minister announced a consultant led 24-hour accident and emergency at Ennis General Hospital will close and be replaced by a nurse-led minor injury unit, which will close at night”.

“If Ms Harney’s “vision” comes about, it will lead to at least 20 people dying needlessly every year in Coun- ty Clare. It’s a bloody nightmare,” said Peadar McNamara, chairman of the committee.

Meanwhile, Saturday’s rally has changed due to a range of difficul- ties, including public liability insur- ance cover, to a protest march from Cusack Park to The Square. People are asked to assemble at 11.30am be- fore marching to The Square via the Tulla Road, New Road, Newbridge Road, Harmony Row, Bindon Street and Bank Place. Speeches will start in the square at lpm and end at ap- proximately 2pm.

Ennis Town Councillor Tom Glynn

(FF) has said he feels betrayed and upset by his “misplaced trust in those obviously couched and hallow prom- ises” of his party and has called on the people of Ennis to support the march.

“If you believe we in Clare deserve and require full and acute 24-hour accident and emergency services in our local hospital that fully meet with the needs of our community at all times of the day and night, please join in the protest rally with family and friends,” he said.

Local TD Joe Carey (FG) is also lending support. “I am asking that people rightly vent their anger at this decision and make their feelings public.”